Summertime is Jazz Festival Time in Michigan
Weekly Series
Aretha Franklin Amphitheater
The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater on the Detroit Riverfront features a number of well-known smooth jazz acts on Wednesday evenings this summer, like Najee on June 18.
John E. Lawrence Summer Jazz
The John E. Lawrence Summer Jazz at Ford Lake Park features free concerts Fridays in August at 7:00 p.m. Ford Lake Park is at 9075 South Huron River Dr. in Ypsilanti.
Jazz In the Garden - Toledo
Toledo Metroparks puts on a Thursday evening jazz series July 10 through September 11. Concerts take place 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; the garden opens at 5:30. There will be a barbeque vendor on the grounds and baked goods will also be for sale. Tickets are $10 for general admission. The Gardens are located at 900 Oneida Street in Toledo (phone: 419-720-8714). Please park at Bancroft entrance.
Jazz Festivals
Summer Solstice Jazz Festival in East Lansing
The Summer Solstice Jazz Festival makes its way to downtown East Lansing June 20 and 21, featuring the very best of local, regional and national talent. This free-to-all festival is centered around a large tent located in the heart of downtown East Lansing in Parking Lot 1, 230 Albert Ave., Ann Street Plaza, located on the northwest corner of the Albert - M.A.C. intersection and the Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum, 547 East Circle Dr.
Jazz in the Park
Mill Pond Park in Saline is the site for the second annual Jazz in the Park festival. The free event is Saturday, July 19, 2:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Michigan Jazz Festival
The 30th anniversary Michigan Jazz Festival is Sunday, July 20, at Schoolcraft College in Livonia. The free all-day festival features music on eight simultaneous stages. See details in our May issue.
Flint Jazz Festival
The Flint Jazz Festival features live jazz, art, crafts, food, drinks under the giant oaks in Riverbank Park August 1-3. It is preceded by the Flint JazzWalk.
JazzFest Michigan
The annual JazzFest Michigan happens July 30 – August 3 on the streets of Olde Town Lansing.
Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival
The 8th annual Kimmie Horne Jazz Festival happens August 8 & 9 on the front lawn of the Southfield Municipal Campus.
Smooth Jazz Fete
Phil Denny’s Armory puts on the 7th annual Smooth Jazz Fete August 9 in Lansing.
Detroit Jazz Festival
The Detroit Jazz Festival is Labor Day weekend in Detroit's Hart Plaza and Campus Martius. The 2025 Festival is headlined by Jason Moran. See details in SEMJA’s upcoming August issue.
Nearby Jazz Festivals
Elkhart Jazz Festival
The lineup for this year’s Elkhart Jazz Festival is impressive, as usual, as it includes some great names in swinging jazz. The list includes the Headhunters and Diana Krall. The annual festival takes place June 19–22 in downtown Elkhart, Indiana.
Tri-C Jazz Festival
Cuyahoga Community College puts on the 45th annual Tri-C Jazz Festival on Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland June 26-28.
Blues Festivals
Alpena Blues Festival
The 21st annual Alpena Blues Festival takes place Saturday, June 21, on the Alpena County Fairgrounds. The festival is organized by the Blues Coalition.
Blues by the Bay
The 23rd annual Blues by the Bay festival takes place in East Tawas August 22–24.
Michigan BluesFest
The Michigan BluesFest has been held in Lansing’s Old Towne since 1994. This year's festival is September 18–21.
Other Music Festivals
Top of the Park
The Top of the Park features several jazz and blues acts on the stage in front of Rackham on the central campus of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
Sterlingfest Art & Music Fair
The annual Sterlingfest Art & Music Fair features live music on the Jazz & Blues stage. The festival takes place on the city of Sterling Heights campus July 24–26.